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Six things to do if you’re still unemployed

10 Nov 2017

It's common to feel unhappy and deflated when unemployed, but it’s important to keep productive and motivated. Here are our top six tips on what you can do during your stint of unemployment, to improve your job prospects and keep your spirits high!

Routine

Treat applying for jobs as a job in itself: wake up early, have a healthy breakfast to keep you energized and find somewhere quiet where you can work on your applications- whether that's at home or at a cafe, choose somewhere where you know won’t get distracted!

Give yourself a target on how many jobs you want to apply for and make a list of what you have achieved that day, so you can review how productive you’ve been. Keep your days structured to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to fill a missing gap on your CV. It is highly admired by employers as it shows you like to keep busy.

Although volunteering isn’t paid, you will learn some beneficial and transferable skills for your next paid job. It can also be a real mood booster too. Knowing you’re helping a community can be a highly rewarding and fulfilling experience, and can make you feel positive during your job hunt.

Follow up

Following up a job application is just as important as the application itself.

You should consider sending a thank you email or letter after the interview. Handwritten letters are a nice touch as it shows your effort in showing your appreciation.

Job Alerts

Set up job alerts so you can be the first to know when a job opportunity that suits your preferences arises. This will make your job search a lot easier, as it will save you trawling through job sites. You can set up alerts for part time jobs here at Timewise Jobs.

Skills

Boosting your skillset is also a helpful way of keeping productive during unemployment. Look for training courses or qualifications that are relevant to what you want to do, especially the ones that are free and can be completed online. This will keep your CV refreshed and could open up more job opportunities.

Connect

CVs that are handed to an employee from someone within the company are more likely to be seen. Utilize and expand your network by connecting with ex colleagues or relevant professionals on LinkedIn. Make sure your family and friends know you’re looking for work too, so they can keep an eye out on possible work opportunities for you as well. Having a large network definitely helps in landing jobs, so be active in getting your name out there.